Add a brand new identify to the record of doable 2026 Florida gubernatorial hopefuls: Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz.
The previous Director of Emergency Administration beneath Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and now freshman in Congress confirmed to POLITICO that he’s taking a look at a possible run for governor in two years.
“I’m not ruling it out,” Moskowitz stated on the Capitol Tuesday. “I’m taking a look at it but it surely’s tremendous early.”
With DeSantis termed out, the Florida governor’s race might be one of many most-watched gubernatorial races in 2026. Already, a handful of Republicans have both indicated they’re within the contest or are being actively talked about, together with GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz (who has stated he’s not ) and Byron Donalds in addition to Florida Republican Lawyer Common Ashley Moody. Some speculate that first woman Casey DeSantis can be a powerful candidate after a recent poll shows assist for a bid from her.
On the Democratic facet, state Sen. Shevrin Jones and Florida Home Minority Chief Fentrice Driskell have each stated they’re “strongly contemplating” mounting a run in 2026.
Any Democrat would have a troublesome race in Florida, the place Republicans maintain a huge voter registration advantage in addition to supermajorities in each the state Home and Senate. The final Democratic governor in Florida was Buddy MacKay, who served for beneath a month after Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles unexpectedly died in 1998.
Amongst Democrats within the Florida delegation, Moskowitz stated there’s a whole lot of chatter round discovering a candidate “who may win a state the place there are actually extra registered Republicans than Democrats.”
“What Democrat can win that?” Moskowitz stated. “Possibly a Democrat who labored for a Republican can win that.”
